Chair.



B. H. $MITH.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY29,1911.

Patenfied Nov. 14, 1911.

2 SHEET8-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES lmuxa fiaiY/fld if 15/732172.

APH (IO-,WASHINGTON n c E. H. SMITH.

CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,1911.

Patented NOV. 14, 1911.

2 SHEETS-$HEET 2.

YNVENTOR Edward 5/774'2/2 5657 Allorne g WITNESSES COLUMBIA P not! TED STATES FATE orrion.

EDWARD H. SMITH, F ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON, ASSICrNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 EDWARD SIESE, OF ABERDEEN, WASHINGTON.

CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, EDWARD H. SMITH, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Aberdeen, in the county of Chehalis and State of WVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chairs, of which the following is .a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to chairs and has special reference to chairs used in theaters which are provided with folding seats.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved chair of this kind so constructed and arranged that the seat will be normally held in folded position and when unfolded and occupied by a person will automatically close to folded position when said person rises from the seat.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figure 1 is a front view of a folded theater chair provided with an automatically folding seat constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the chair in vertical section showing one of the hinged joints of the chair seat. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of one of the hinge bracket arms employed in connection with this invention. Fig. 4: is a detail front view partly broken away and in section of a I portion of one of the seat bracket arms, the chair frame, and one of the hinge joints of the seat. Fig. 5 is a detail side View in vertical section. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the hinge springs. Fig. 7 is a front View of the chair with the hat holding device omitted.

' In carrying out the invention the chair is constructed with the usual metal uprights comprising the leg portions 1, each formed at its upper end with a metallic bracket 2 on which is mounted an arm rest 8. The back 4 of the chair is secured at the sides to extensions 2 of the brackets 2. Projecting inwardly from and formed integral with the upper end of each leg 1 is an inclined bar or stop 5 above which projects a pivot pin 6 which projects through a hole 7 in the lower end of a metallic bracket 8 having a lateral channel shaped projection 9 adapted to embrace a wooden bar 10 secured to the underside of a seat 11, the channel shaped projection 9 being secured to the bar 10 and to the seat 11 by means of a nut and bolt 12, the bolt passing through a hole 13 in the channel shaped projection 9. The lower end of each bracket arm 8 is formed with a tapering projection 14 located at a right angle to the channel shaped projection 9 and being on its inner side provided with a split ring 15 formed at its rear with an opening 16 adjacent to an opening 17 in the bracket arm 8.

Each of the bracket arms 8 being secured as shown in Fig. 1 to the underside of the seat 11 and the seat being in folded position as shown, the angular projection 14 will be located above the stop or bearing 5 at an angle thereto, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to hold the seat in folded position and to automatically return it from its open position to the folded position, a spring is provided consisting ofa piece of wire formed with an extended portion 18 and with a coil 19 at its lower end terminating in a hook 20 provided with an inturned hook shaped end 21 at its upper end. In placing the spring in position the coil 19 is mounted on the pivot pin 6 which projects through the hole 7 in the lower end of the bracket 8, the coil being located between said pin and the broken ring 15, and the extended portion 18 of the spring projects through the opening 16 in the ring and through the opening 17 in the bracket 8 and up behind the latter and is secured in place by means of the hook end 20 engaging a hole in a plate 22 mounted on the square end 23 of the pivot pin 6 and secured thereon by a cotter pin '24.

It will be seen that by means of this construction a very simple and effective hinge is provided for the chair seat, said spring operating to hold the seat in folded position and to automatically return it to folded position when the occupant of the seat rises therefrom. By means of this simple construction also should any of the parts break or get out of order they may be easily repaired or replaced.

In Fig. 1 the chair is shown as folded with the usual form of hat retaining means consisting of a wire 25 bent so as to engage the rim of a hat, said wire being secured to the bar 10 and the brackets 8.

It will be seen also that when the seat is in unfolded position the stops 5 serve as a firm support for the seat with the angular portions 14 resting on said stops.

What I claim is In a device of the class described, a standard member having an inwardly projecting inclined bearing, a pivot pin above the stop bearing, a seat bracket arm having an inclined projection movable into and out of engagement With the inclined stop bearing on the standard and having a hole adjacent to said inclined projection through Which the pivot pin projects, and a ring With an aperture surrounding said hole, a coil spring mounted on said pivot pin Within said ring and having an arm extending upward and secured to said bracket, and a plate mounted on said pivot pin and inclosing said spring.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my 15 signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

EDWARD H. SM1TH. Witnesses:

SAML. F. 'STEENDAHL, CARL EDWARD SIEsE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,'by addressing :the Commissioner. of .Patents,

' Washington, I). 0. 

